Which term describes judging someone based on another person's characteristics rather than objective criteria?

The correct term for judging someone based on another person's characteristics rather than objective criteria is contrast. This concept occurs when the evaluation of one individual is influenced by comparisons with another individual, leading to biased judgments that are not based on the actual merits or facts concerning the person in question. For example, if a manager assesses an employee's performance while considering a previous employee's notably poor performance, the manager might rate the current employee more favorably than warranted, simply due to the negative comparison.

Contrast can distort perceptions and decision-making processes, emphasizing relative evaluations instead of objective assessments. This is especially significant in organizational settings where hiring or promotion decisions may be swayed by such biases.

The other terms do not accurately describe this phenomenon. Attributions refer to how we interpret and explain the behavior of ourselves and others, often relating to whether we see actions as a result of internal traits or external situations. Framing involves the way information is presented, which can affect decision outcomes but does not specifically relate to making judgments based on comparisons with others. Recency is a cognitive bias that focuses on the most recent information we have, which can affect judgments but not specifically through the lens of comparing individuals based on another’s traits.